Nedra Talley
Birth nameNedra Yvonne Talley
Birth dateJanuary 27, 1946
Birth placeManhattan, New York City, U.S.
Death dateApril 26, 2026 (aged 80)
Death placeChesapeake, Virginia, U.S.
AliasNedra Talley-Ross
OccupationSinger
Years active1957–2005
SpouseScott Ross (m. 1967; died 2023)
GenreChristian music · pop · rock
LabelColpix · Philles · New Song
Past member ofThe Ronettes

Nedra Yvonne Talley-Ross (January 27, 1946 – April 26, 2026) was an American singer. She was best known as a member of the girl group the Ronettes, in which she performed with her cousins Ronnie and Estelle Bennett.

Background

Nedra Yvonne Talley was born on January 27, 1946, in Manhattan, New York City.[1][2] She was of Black, Native American, Irish, and Puerto Rican descent.[3] Her husband was Scott Ross (1939–2023), a former DJ[4] turned interviewer for The 700 Club on the Christian Broadcasting Network.[5] They had four children. In her later years, she worked in real estate and lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[6]

Career

She formed the Ronettes with her cousins Ronnie and Estelle Bennett in 1957.[2][7]

In 1967, Talley and Estelle Bennett left the Ronettes, a decade after the group's formation. The split was reportedly due in part to interference from the group's producer Phil Spector, who later married Ronnie Bennett.[4] Talley said that when she met Scott Ross, her future husband, she became a born-again Christian. Talley also decided to leave the Ronettes because she felt there was little place for Christian-inspired music.[8]

In 1977, Talley recorded several Christian songs written by her church's music director, Ted Sandquist. These were released on the album The Courts of the King: The Worship Music of Ted Sandquist. One of the cuts, a medley, "Love of My Lord" / "Redwood Tree" was released as a 45 promo single. Guitarist Phil Keaggy played on at least two of the album cuts with her. For its 30th anniversary, this album was finally released on CD.

In 1978, Talley recorded Full Circle, a solo contemporary Christian music album, on which Keaggy once again musically backed her. Keaggy wrote the title track and released his own version of it on his 1981 album Town To Town.[9] The album was produced by Talley's husband, Scott Ross. The album's inner sleeve featured Talley's bio (and salvation story), but also a photo taken in the mid-'60s aboard a plane with Talley and fellow Ronette, Estelle Bennett, sharing seats with The Beatles' John Lennon and George Harrison, who were great fans of the Ronettes. The album has, to date, never been re-released.[10] The Ronettes opened for The Beatles during their 1966 U.S. tour.[11]

A four-disc set, Roger McGuinn's The Folk Den Project (1995–2005), featured the old folk song "Follow the Drinking Gourd", as sung by McGuinn, with Talley providing the sole but prominent background vocal.[12]

In 2007, the Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards.[4][2]

Personal life and death

Following the split of the Ronettes, Talley became a born-again Christian.[7] She was married to Scott Ross, a radio DJ.[2]

Talley died at her home in Chesapeake, Virginia, on April 26, 2026, at the age of 80.[2][13][14] She was the last survivor of the original Ronettes.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Ronettes Biography". Archived July 1, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 17, 2013. Note: Talley's birth year was open to speculation. This entry states 1946. Several other sources cited 1944. However a search of Virginia legal records (via Intelius) shows conclusively her birthdate as being January 27, 1946[original research?]
  2. ^ Cain, Sian (April 27, 2026). "Nedra Talley Ross, last surviving member of the Ronettes, dies aged 80". The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  3. ^ Sisario, Ben (February 16, 2009). "A Life of Troubles Followed a Singer's Burst of Fame". The New York Times. Archived December 19, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  4. ^ McDonald, Sam (March 11, 2007). "Forever and a song". The Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  5. ^ "CBN Family Mourns Passing of Scott Ross: A Lifelong Christian Broadcaster". CBN. August 14, 2023.
  6. ^ McDonald, Sam (March 11, 2007). "Forever and a song". Daily Press. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  7. ^ Breihan, Tom (2026-04-27). "Nedra Talley, Last Surviving Member Of The Ronettes, Dead At 80". Stereogum. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  8. ^ von Buseck, Craig. "A Ronette Encounters a Big God". CBN. Archived September 23, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "Nedra Ross Biography". One Way. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  10. ^ "Full Circle - Nedra Ross | Album | AllMusic", retrieved 2026-05-07
  11. ^ Russell, Shania (April 26, 2026). "Nedra Talley Ross, last surviving member of the Ronettes, dies at 80". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  12. ^ "Roger McGuinn - Follow the Drinking Gourd - Free Music Archive". freemusicarchive.org. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
  13. ^ Clack, Erin (April 26, 2026). "Nedra Talley Ross, Last Surviving Member of 1960s Girl Group The Ronettes, Dies at 80". People. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  14. ^ Risen, Clay (April 27, 2026). "Nedra Talley Ross, Last Surviving Member of the Ronettes, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2026.